mandamus

American  

[man-day-muhs] / mænˈdeɪ məs /

noun

• mandamuses
  plural

1. a writ from a superior court to an inferior court or to an officer, corporation, etc., commanding that a specified thing be done.

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verb (used with object)

1. to intimidate or serve with such writ.

mandamus British  

/ mænˈdeɪməs /

noun

1. law formerly a writ from, now an order of, a superior court commanding an inferior tribunal, public official, corporation, etc, to carry out a public duty

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Other Word Forms

Noun Inflected Forms

• mandamuses
  plural

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Etymology

Origin of mandamus

From the Latin word mandāmus we command

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Explanation

A mandamus is an order passed down from a court requiring that an official perform some particular function as an absolute duty. If a public official tries to do his job in whatever way he sees fit, a court might issue a mandamus, telling him, "This is your duty — do it. Or else." Say you're a dogcatcher and you've been looking the other way while Tootles runs free, digging up flower beds. A court might issue a writ of mandamus ordering you to put Tootles in the pound. It's no longer up to you — it's time to bring Tootles in.

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

mandamus mandamuses

But a writ of mandamus is a last resort, when a prosecutor believes and can demonstrate that their case has been effectively destroyed by a judge clearly violating the law.

From Salon ● May 16, 2024

Justin Jones and Justin Pearson file for a writ of mandamus, Federal District Court, in Nashville, against the Tennessee Assembly.

From Seattle Times ● Apr. 7, 2023

They were seeking what’s known as mandamus, which is a request to the court to order a government official to take an action.

From Washington Times ● Mar. 1, 2023

Branstad, but Dennison was partially overturned as the court held that federal courts could mandate extradition through mandamus.

From Slate ● Jul. 29, 2022

John Russell Young, then Librarian of Congress, Judge Cole in 1889, while refusing the mandamus asked for, asserted incidentally that "the Librarian had no discretion."

From Copyright: Its History and Its Law by Richard Rogers Bowker

You realise, I hope, that there are here no judges, juries, nor lawyers, no mandamuses and no appeals.

From Revenge! by Robert Barr

It might rain mandamuses and warrants, they had no power to trouble me.

From Paul Gosslett's Confessions in Love, Law, and The Civil Service by Charles James Lever

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